so long.

confession time {and an embarrassing one at that}. so, i don't watch tv. like ever. it happened when i picked up blogging, and started living on my own. there just aren't enough hours in the day. but, see, i do watch this one show. one hour per week. one tree hill. {oh, tell me you're a fan, too!}

i discovered it the summer between freshman and sophomore year of college, and literally spent three days straight watching the first two seasons. would. not. go. to. bed... just. one. more. episode...

addicted. has that every happened to you?

anyhow, i've seen every episode since. never missed a single one.

while this might seem quite silly, in honor of their ninth and final season that concludes next wednesday, i feel inclined to give one tree hill a shout-out of gratitude. i've been with this crew forever, routing on each and every one of them.

it's the end of an era, i'll miss you dearly.

{may this inspire you to reflect on your favorite tv show and remember your younger self who just began watching. that's what makes a series so great. you grow right along with the characters}. xo

the arena.

about a year ago, i shared one of my favorite ted talks of all time by brené brown. she discusses the importance of vulnerability in our lives and what it means to live whole-heartedly, with courage. in moments of fear, i often reflect on her talk and become rooted in the thought that while feeling vulnerable is scary, it's a necessity for personal growth, positive change, and discovering our own self-worth.

as she states, in her follow up ted talk, "vulnerability is not weakness, it's the birthplace of innovation, creativity, and change."



if you have twenty minutes, i'd recommend watching. it may just be the psych major in me, but i can attest that it has some incredibly valuable lessons on shame, and how feelings of not being good enough can get in the way of who we want to be.

as brené says, "may we enter the arena that is our lives, and dare greatly."


it's all happening has truly taught me we must risk feeling vulnerable by speaking our minds to create something beautiful that is true to ourselves. bring on the vulnerability. we need more of it in this world.

home.

i had one of those moments on this fine monday eve where i fully felt like myself. one hundred percent. hi me, i've been missing you. it was almost as if i came home. like, oh! it's so nice to see you again.

do you ever have moments like that? when other things kind of cloud your vision and consequently make you feel a bit out of step?

maybe it was the simplicity of the solo adventure. the familiarity of an old routine. even the heavy whole foods grocery bags making my fingers burn with numbness only added to the perfection of the moment. i thought about people i hadn't thought about in a while, revisited memories made, admired the high clouds, and contemplated my next turn on the route home. happy is what i think they call it.

things i'm leaving this day knowing...

daylight savings is a wonderful gift.

sometimes it's okay to have two kombuchas in one day. maybe it's even necessary.

an evening walk makes for great natural medicine.

a challenging sixty minute yoga class before bed just might lead to the best sleep you'll ever have. try it.

love yourself first and everything else falls into line {that one i owe credit to ms. lucille ball. i wear it as a daily reminder, and nights like tonight remind me of why i believe it to be true}.

*delights found here and here. funny how days and days after pinning a photo it can fit exactly how you want it to. oh, where oh where would we be without pinterest?

cups of xo today.

one of my favorite moments of the morning is sipping from this homemade heart mug. i brew my peets coffee and sip it at my desk for the next hour or so.

reminds me of this quote:

"...it's the sweet, simple things of life which are the real ones after all."

~laura ingalls wilder

i believe i made this mug one summer in college on a girlfriend outing to color-me-mine. who would have thought it would last me to my corner-office-corporate-life. i love the juxtaposition. it fits, but it doesn't really fit. serves as a daily reminder of my younger self. the self who loves mushy, lovey-dovey creativity.

very grateful for this heart edition.

gametime.

let's play a little game called what's in my bag? you know, like they do in us weekly {yup, i'm content-stealing}.

things i absolutely never leave home without...

my phone, obviously. 

that darn day planner. i find myself so attached to it, anxiety ensues if i forget to stash it in my purse. you never know when you might need to put something on the books! call me old-fashioned, but i prefer paper to devices. 

coral hobo wallet. technically, it's a clutch, but it really does make for a great holder of cards, checkbooks, and every frozen yogurt and coffee punch-card imaginable. 

my pen, a souvenir from maui. always, always carry a writing utensil! you never know when you'll need to jot down a few ideas or add a few things to your grocery list. if i don't scribble it down in that very moment, i kick myself later because i can't remember the thought for the life of me.

headphones. primarily to listen to sarah and vinnie on the radio dot com app on walks to work.

work badge. we run tight security.

ginger candies are always a good way to satisfy your sweet tooth and even soothe an upset tummy.

usb drive... you know, in case we need to transfer any files.

advil for any aches.

keys for entering and exiting.

muni pass. always stored in the side pocket for easy access. speaking of, it's time to re-load that bus fair.

my new favorite benefit lipstain. who needs lipstick when you can stain for long lasting color?

and finally, a hair claw to tame the sometimes out of control mane. 

 

see how full this thing can get? can't.live.without.it.

now tell me, dolls, what's in your bag? 

i spy gratitude.

how about a little photo album of thankfulness? yes, i think so. a few things - as of late -  that make my life feel whole...

a friday treat after a long, hard week. anemones. i love this flower and finally learned its proper name. {i dream of white ones in a someday wedding.}

saturday morning cappuccino's. blue bottle, of course. nothing compares.

adventures! with the dearest of friends. quick jaunts across the bridge for a long-awaited spa day. soaking in the city from a different point of view. trying new eats in sausalito, one of my new favorite gems of a city.

sonoma sundays. happy birthday to b! a great day putting names to faces of some incredibly empowering young women, and cozily squeezing eleven of us in a ten person limo. discovered two darling new wineries: scribe and cline. just a hop, skip, and a jump from home.

finally, monday night therapy. had to visit the one and only before he departs for europe. it felt so good to be back.

...and that's a wrap!

heart throb.

yes, it arrived post tropical vacation,  but it's here! {although it makes me want to jaunt right back to the islands to bask in the sun}.

add it to the heart collection.

upon opening the package, i began counting down the days until it's sunny again in sf so i can be heart adorned in this new suit. that, or plan another vacation!

found at none other than j.crew.

next stop.

my mother lived to be one hundred and eight, she said. and every night she had a glass of single malt scotch. 

so that was her secret? i replied.

and diet coke. once before her hundred and second birthday she was wheeling her recycling out and a neighbor commented on all of the empty cans: 'that stuff will kill you.' my mother laughed and retorted, 'hunny, i've been drinking it for a hundred years.'

she became our best friend for the rest of the evening. more stories up that sweet woman's sleeve than countries in the all world. it just so happens she's visited over one hundred of them. a hundred and sixty six to be exact! she exclaims.

sitting next to her is phil. a stoic older gentleman with a more muted sense of humor, rather large round-shaped spectacles, and a good head of white hair. a silver fox in his own right. they're pals, phil and marie. travel buddies, in fact. every other month they take a trip together. current destination: maui. next stop: switzerland.

but they're story is unique, you see. they are friends. adventurers, really. at eighty five and seventy eight {marie seven years phil's senior} they explore the world together because, well, it's too early to throw in the towel.

they met years ago on a group trip to timbuktu {yes this place does exist in the west african nation of mali. you learn something new everyday}. he sat next to her in a vacant seat at dinner and the rest is history. she resides in cincinnati and him, seattle. but, every few weeks they rendevous. marie lost her husband thirty one years ago and phil lost his spouse as well.

but now, they have each other. friends forever. next stop, anywhere.

i'll likely never see this fearless pair again, but i'll remember them forever. like they did for me, may they inspire you to live to be one hundred and to never be afraid to explore the world. it's not too late.

*preciousness found here and here.

aloha.

aloha, loves! i'm still here, i promise.

just took a quick hiatus from everyday life into a dreamland called maui. a little break from technology {unless, of course, you count the kindle. i've barely looked up from the thing for the past two days}.

i'm completely immersed in the hunger games and while i admit i was late to jump on the bandwagon after not loving book one, my mind has completely changed.

the past five days were filled with nothing but sunshine, mai-tai's, warm air, family-time, poolside relaxation, and a nostalgia for trips as a little one {my how everything is so much bigger when you're a kid}. i'm so grateful for new memories in old places.

...and now, back to reality! xo

i heart hearts.

okay, it's official. i'm starting a series on hearts.

you'll notice my obsession on nails, on jewelry, on sweaters, on strings, and and on iphone cases. ridiculous. and it only continues to grow...

these new tom's shoes are the most recent heart addiction.

they happen to be the special valentine's edition. i must give credit where credit is due, as i would not have discovered these sweethearts or even considered purchasing a pair of toms {they are not the most flattering shoes, dolls!} without the magical knowledge of a girl that has more tricks up her sleep than anyone i know {thank you!}.

they sure are comfy! every time i look down they make me oh-so-happy. heart them!

girl crush.

it's true, as females, we all have them. girl crushes.

the i-want-to-be-your-best-friend, and also, by the way... i'd-really-like-to-be-you because you are oh-so-cool.

i've narrowed mine down to four particular role models that, in my opinion, have it all. brains. beauty. charisma. and confidence. 

i envy you in the healthiest possible way.

meet sophia, minka, keri, and carrie. if i channel my teeny bopper self here, you'd be part of an intricate girly collage glued to the inside of my pencil box. and that, my friends, says a lot.

{might i add that there were two close runner ups... rachel and the one and only lc.}

honey.

i'm in a transition phase, i said. it's all a transition phase, she responded.

that's when i realized, we're constantly in transit, aren't we? moving and changing and growing and passing from one state to the next.

often times i think of the yoga philosophy that nothing is permanent. that's so very true.

we must embrace each phase as it comes. with open arms and an open heart. accept it and adjust while channeling that fluidity and grace.

this sounds a lot like flowing through a vinyasa, which i now see as a symbol for moving through our ever-changing lives with ease.  sometimes anna calls it moving through honey.

our transitional life is our honey. now let's move through it in a nimble fashion, whatdoyasay?

meet me.

makers.

i'm a proud aol-er today, loves. we announced our new program called makers, and let me tell you, it's a must-watch. 

aol and pbs are pairing to create a television and digital series on makers - essentially, the women who make america. it's inspiring, it's real, and as a female, it's important.

the video initiative to be aired online and on pbs {in early 2013 as a documentary series} showcases hundreds of compelling stories from the trailblazing women of today and tomorrow.

most importantly, it embodies one of my most favorite life phenomenons... 

we all have a story.

may this aol produced show inspire you to tell yours. go ahead, find someone you want to learn about...

note-ify me.

recently, a dear friend ever so kindly gifted me these adorable note cards. it was the sweetest treat in celebration of the season of love. i am entranced by their simplicity and san francisco-themed settings, all adorned with a floating red heart balloon. they're perfect!

i've sent a few out, but kept many for myself to decorate the 'ol apartment. 'tis true, i do love this city and i'm not afraid to show it.

check out noteify. in fact, read all about the founder. she's got a great story, and is such an inspiration to wake up everyday and do what you love. let the creativity flow!

thanks, b! i {red balloon} heart you.